Many Faces. One Dream. – Next Stop Oakland

Release Date:

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Release Number:

SFDO 14-06

Advisory Date:

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Advisory Number:

Contact:

Marlow Schindler, marlow.schindler@sba.gov

SAN FRANCISCO - Many Faces. One Dream. (MFOD) is an economic empowerment tour for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities of color. MFOD’s Oakland stop will take place on April 21-22, 2014 at the Oakland Marriott City Center. The two day event will consist of workshops, one-on-one and small group counseling, and a Business Resource Expo with local community partners. Seminars will be conducted on strategic planning, access to capital, social media, and more.

“MFOD, brought to you by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in partnership with the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), is more than just a tour; it is a commitment agency-wide to the entrepreneurial programs available to everyone in the business community regardless of their race, gender or orientation,” said Eugene Cornelius, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations.

“LGBT people of color contend with so much workplace, gender identity and employment discrimination. With the Many Faces. One Dream. tour, we want to give them the reins to their own destiny through entrepreneurial tools,” said Darryl Moore, NBJC Chairman and Berkeley City Councilmember.

MFOD’s focus is to open the doors of the SBA to the LGBT community, particularly those who represent ethnic minority communities. The tour will address some of the unique stumbling blocks to success that are faced by LGBT people, such as a lack of visibility and access to capital.

“Because of the challenges we face, LGBT people represent an untapped segment of aspiring entrepreneurs. It’s time to expand the conversation to include economic empowerment,” says Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NBJC.

Participants will be grouped into two tracks: “Starting Your Business” and “Taking Your Business to the Next Level.” In the first track, training will be provided on the key elements of a business plan, loans, marketing, and SBA’s program and services. The second track will be geared toward LGBT firms that are currently in business but want to expand and grow.